Homepin published a video on their facebook page claiming Thunderbirds is ready and going in production now.https://www.facebook.com/pg/homepin.factoryThe machine in the video is the last prototype, in particular the ramp will be better.

One thing I noticed are the two rubber posts protecting the entrance to the ramp.This breaks the Pat Lawlor law of "reward them even if they miss", or another way he puts it: "Oops, but hopefully who ever watches will think I really meant to do that".Compare that to the mini-targets guarding the ramps in Star Trek Vengeance.

I really hope Homepin does well and is in a spot to really prove themselves over the next couple of years. Manufacturing in china and building all the parts in house is a bold move and I hope it's a success and pays off with many new games. And maybe... even a Chinese pinball boom eventually? Get thee a Jackie Chan themed machine and print that money.$6500 Canadian is a decent price point for a newcomer, considering the other parts of the boutique market. Hopefully the shipping on top doesn't kill it.

But as for this game, it looks a bit of a turd. I have no idea why someone would bring back the waving targets that we all thought were leftover to the EM era.The center ramp shot looks like Cyclone / Comet / Hurricane and I am not a fan of the shot on those games.Great theme integration, sound, and art, and hopefully that will be enough to pull in enough sales.

I know they're being assembled in China and things are done differently there, but that shot of the worker airbrushing a component with what is likely an isocyanate paint while wearing only a fiber mask kinda punched me right in the gut.

Pinball is already a luxury item. Getting it done in China so that he can charge less and not have to follow health and safety standards in the markets the game is being sold in just feels a little... I dunno, it feels rotten, even if I'm saving a couple of grand off the cost of a machine. Why not charge us pinheads just a little more and buy that worker a positive airflow mask?

I love pinball but it's a *game*- these workers are just doing a job, and if this worker keeps doing it the way the company has him set up, it's going to kill him.

semicolin wrote:I know they're being assembled in China and things are done differently there, but that shot of the worker airbrushing a component with what is likely an isocyanate paint while wearing only a fiber mask kinda punched me right in the gut.

Mike mentioned the China government is dead serious about the environment now. They forced him to improve the first water fall paint recovery contraption he built. I agree it would suck big times if he went through all the trouble to satisfy the China government without making his workers' health a priority.

semicolin wrote:I know they're being assembled in China and things are done differently there, but that shot of the worker airbrushing a component with what is likely an isocyanate paint while wearing only a fiber mask kinda punched me right in the gut.

Mike mentioned the China government is dead serious about the environment now. They forced him to improve the first water fall paint recovery contraption he built. I agree it would suck big times if he went through all the trouble to satisfy the China government without making his workers' health a priority.

In the very near future, we will look like a primitive third-world country compared to China...

Thanks for the kind words of support. It has been a very challenging four years to make it to this point. I started this project from an empty factory space and now I'm pleased to be able to say we are starting to build our first pinball machines. I would like to add a few details about some comments made in this thread.

The staff member "painting" the DMD panel was in fact posing for the camera - he is spraying water only. Our workers ALWAYS don the correct protective gear for every part of the job they are doing. But, on the subject of paint, we ONLY use water based "green" paint for all painting of our products.

We have made licenced video game tables under the well known Australian brand, "Hankin" for the last three years and we most certainly do have a production line, it just wasn't shown in that promo video (see a pic below with game tables on the line). We will alternate between tables and pinballs as the demand dictates. We also have other machines in the pipeline and all of this compliments our extensive range of replacement pinball PCBs that we have made for nearly ten years now.

I'm pleased to announce that Nitro Pinball in Vancouver is the sole Homepin authorised agent for Canada and they will be stocking the full range of Homepin products from Thunderbirds pinball (RRP US$4995) to Hankin game tables and also the full range of our replacement pinball PCBs. Contact Tommy if you are interested in any of our products as the first shipment is selling fast and it hasn't left yet!

We are readying for our first small run of TAG and we have placed orders with outside vendors for the things that we don't make such as the custom made plywood and the clear 2mm ramps but we are being thwarted a little by Chinese New Year that is looming at the moment.

A note on workplace, heath and safety, the Chinese Government is cracking down very heavily in this area and also environmental protection areas. We are inspected at least once a week in the factory by some other Govt department from fire to insurance and on the list goes. Long gone are the days of workers being paid $10 a week and living in squalor. Two of my staff have recently bought new cars (and I drive a used Great Wall pickup LOL) and a third is taking driving lessons at the moment. China in 2018 is nothing like the China from even 10 years ago. Most cars on the street are new 7 series BMWs, Benz's and Audi's. It isn't a joke, I'm very serious.

Anyway, thanks again for your support and I look forward to visiting again later this year for "Flipout".

Welcome to maaca. Most of our members are from Eastern Canada.Nitro is very far from us which means we cannot visit their show room.Maybe pincon or the Ottawa Pinball & Gameroom Show can get big enough for Nitro to bring a booth some day.

The video says you ship worldwide. Does that mean there will be a US distributor with stock soon?

Holy shit, $5k USD MSRP??? That's the dream right there, isn't it? Stern Pro pins are $6200 USD MSRP. https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic ... se-historyIf you can produce fun and good looking games and serve them up for $1200 USD less than a Stern pro, that could potentially be a major game-changer.Best of luck!

Nice to see another brand out there producing machines, even if it is in China. Too bad about picking 1 sole distributor in a country that is 5000km wide (and on the far west coast!!) I'd want to play one before ordering from that far away, might as well be Florida at that point.

Thanks for the kind words of support. It has been a very challenging four years to make it to this point. I started this project from an empty factory space and now I'm pleased to be able to say we are starting to build our first pinball machines. I would like to add a few details about some comments made in this thread.

The staff member "painting" the DMD panel was in fact posing for the camera - he is spraying water only. Our workers ALWAYS don the correct protective gear for every part of the job they are doing. But, on the subject of paint, we ONLY use water based "green" paint for all painting of our products.

We have made licenced video game tables under the well known Australian brand, "Hankin" for the last three years and we most certainly do have a production line, it just wasn't shown in that promo video (see a pic below with game tables on the line). We will alternate between tables and pinballs as the demand dictates. We also have other machines in the pipeline and all of this compliments our extensive range of replacement pinball PCBs that we have made for nearly ten years now.

I'm pleased to announce that Nitro Pinball in Vancouver is the sole Homepin authorised agent for Canada and they will be stocking the full range of Homepin products from Thunderbirds pinball (RRP US$4995) to Hankin game tables and also the full range of our replacement pinball PCBs. Contact Tommy if you are interested in any of our products as the first shipment is selling fast and it hasn't left yet!

We are readying for our first small run of TAG and we have placed orders with outside vendors for the things that we don't make such as the custom made plywood and the clear 2mm ramps but we are being thwarted a little by Chinese New Year that is looming at the moment.

A note on workplace, heath and safety, the Chinese Government is cracking down very heavily in this area and also environmental protection areas. We are inspected at least once a week in the factory by some other Govt department from fire to insurance and on the list goes. Long gone are the days of workers being paid $10 a week and living in squalor. Two of my staff have recently bought new cars (and I drive a used Great Wall pickup LOL) and a third is taking driving lessons at the moment. China in 2018 is nothing like the China from even 10 years ago. Most cars on the street are new 7 series BMWs, Benz's and Audi's. It isn't a joke, I'm very serious.

Anyway, thanks again for your support and I look forward to visiting again later this year for "Flipout".

Welcome to MAACA! And I must admit I am excited to see this pin and try one out. And it is cool to see the Hankin name in gaming once again!!

uberhare wrote:Nice to see another brand out there producing machines, even if it is in China. Too bad about picking 1 sole distributor in a country that is 5000km wide (and on the far west coast!!) I'd want to play one before ordering from that far away, might as well be Florida at that point.

China has become the world's factory. We're screwed.

I understand your frustration but there are several factors at play. We can't spread ourselves too thin as a new player because I want to make 100% certain that wherever our products are sold we support them to our best ability. That requires having solid partners that we can trust and rely on. Second, finding distributors who are prepared to take a chance ON US!!! - it just isn't that simple.

Tommy took a punt, hopped on a 'plane and came to China specifically to visit the Homepin factory and see for himself if we were for real or not. It takes serious commitment for anyone to do that.

I understand about the size of Canada - I'm Australian and it's also very large. I'm certain Tommy will find a way to sort out the situation and I will be working with him to establish things in all parts of Canada.

Yes, the Homepin factory is physically in China for pretty obvious reasons BUT all management are Australian and Taiwanese and we not only know and understand pinball but we are also well aware of the "Made in China = CRAP" argument. Don't worry, we often say and think that in Australia as well. It's easily overlooked that China does produce some of the worlds best electronics but ONLY with the help and guidance of western companies and personnel.

We are also working on a new release pinball that will be the first Hankin pinball machine for 30 years - it is being designed by one of David Hankins' sons who is also an avid pinball player and ranks highly in the world scene as a player.

China can product whatever quality you demand! I work for an automotive parts importer and seen both ends of it. Lots of good quality parts coming out of China now. OEMs are all producing parts there too. Anyone who thinks they are buying a "domestic" car these days to avoid foreign goods is delusional.

I'll tell ya straight up having your dealer that far away, people will order from the USA before Vancouver. Not going to happen, so you might as well choose one near Toronto or Montreal too.

Congrats on bringing another machine to market at a competitive price!

uberhare wrote:I'll tell ya straight up having your dealer that far away, people will order from the USA before Vancouver. Not going to happen, so you might as well choose one near Toronto or Montreal too.

I've got bad news for you. Mike repeatedly said the USA is not his market. Hence my question about a US distributor above.This business decision makes sense to me if he wants to follow the same scale model as Spooky, but it rubbed many Americans the wrong way.